A cohort of LMB staff recently took to the streets of Cambridge to participate in the Cambridge Pride Parade for the first time. Remaining buoyant in the face of less than pleasant weather conditions, the cheerful (if slightly damp) group followed the route to finish at Jesus Green, enthusiastically championing the LGBTQ+ community in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM).
LMB’s participation was coordinated by Louise Atkin, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, and is indicative of her overarching aims to embed and grow tenets of EDI throughout the lab.
Louise commented, “I strongly believe that colleagues must feel able to bring all parts of their identity to work. Taking part in the Pride March is one of the ways the LMB is working to create an inclusive and psychologically safe environment for all.”
Ahead of the parade, several members of the LMB got stuck into creatively reimagining old lab coats which were no longer fit for research purposes. Utilising a bevy of colours, glitter, ribbons and more, these old lab coats were transformed into resplendent outfits befitting the Pride theme.
Nic Farmer, who attended the event, commented, “I came along because I wanted members of the public to see us in the parade, in our colourful lab coats, and recognize that regardless of your gender identity or sexual orientation, science is for everyone! I think also as the Race Equality Lead, it’s important for me to be at Pride because the intersection of race often means that there are not enough visible queer people of colour in STEM. I will gladly be that representation.”
Others said; “It was fun to go on the parade and to hang out with colleagues and friends from the lab. Let’s do it again next year!”
“Other scientists from around Cambridge saw our lab coats and came over to us to say ‘Hi’ which was really nice!”